Improvement in billiard-registers



- ZSheets-SheetL J. LIPMAN & O. SCHROETER.

BILLIARD REGISTER. No. 175,471, Patented March 28,1876.

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N. PETERS, FHOTO-LITNQGRAFHER. WASHINGTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I. LIPMAN 80 O. SCHROETER.

BILLIARD REGISTER.

Patented March 28,1876.

BY Wyn 1% TTURNEYS.

OGRAPMEK. WASHINGTON u c UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFIorl JOHN LIPMAN AND OTTO SOHROETER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN BlLLlARD-REGISTERS- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175 171, dated March 28, 1876 application filed March 6, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN LIPMAN and 'OTTO SCHROETER, of Toledo, in the county of Lu cas and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Billiard-Register, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of our improved billiard-register; Fig. 2, an end view, with parts broken out to show construction of game-checking mechanism Fig. 3, a rear elevation, with cover taken 011' to show interior parts; and'Fig. 4, a horizontal section of the register on the line 0 c, Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Our invention relates to an improved billiard-register which shows, at all times, plainly the state of the game by one number only for each player, denotes each count by the clear sound of a bell, enables each player to count independently of the other, gives a full control over the number of games played, and admits also of the counting up to thousand points in match-games separately from the common counting up to hundred points.

The invention consists of a registering m echanism which indicates, by means of sliding buttons or keys operated by the players, the count and discount of each by separate ratchet-wheel, pawl, and bell arrangements, with a separate counter for points above one hundred. A separate key releases the springacted counting-band and returns it to zero, indicating, at the same time, on a gamechecking device, the number of games played. A separate string attached to the gamechecking ratchet-wheel allows the proprietor to set the game-register back to zero. The counting and discounting keys operate the registeringband by one ratchetand -paw1 mechanism, in connection with the spring ao tion imparted to the registering-band.

In the drawing illustrating our invention, A represents a casing, of suitable finish, in which the difierent mechanisms are placed, to be protected against dust, &c. The casing A is of sufiicient size to admit preferably the separate counting devices for three players, though it may be also arranged for two, or for a greater number than three. The mechanisms are operated by sliding keys or buttons '13, four of which are provided for each player;

spring is attached to each button for the purpose of carrying it back after each pushingin. The counting-button B engages, by a pivoted spring-pawl, a, Figs. 3 and 4, the teeth or spurs b of an upright shaft, F, which carries above the same a round or polygonal winding-drum D, to which the registeringband D is attached in such a manner that it passes the opening 0 for exhibiting plainly the numbers thereon.

A ratchet-wheel, G, is placed on shaft F, below drum D, and retains the drum by a bellcrank spring check-pawl G. The registeringband D passes from drum D along suitable guides around a hollow drum, E, being held in stretched position by a spiral spring, E, applied to the shaft of drum E in the interior of the same. The discounting-button B releases, on being depressed, the bell-crank pawl G from ratchet G, so that by the action of the spiral spring E the band D is wound up on drum E. The rear end of the discountingbutton stem is connected by a spiral spring, d, with a pivoted pawl, d; Fig. 4, that is re- .ta-ined outside of ratchet G by a weaker spring, 0?, whose action is overcome by the stronger spring at, when actuated by the pushing back of the button, so that pawl d is caused to drop into the ratchet-teeth for the purpose of controlling the unwinding and discounting of one figure only at the time from drum D, and preventing the entire rewinding of the registering-band on its spring-drum. Both the counting and discounting buttons are connected also to the spring-clappers of bells I, to strike, simultaneously with the motion of their common ratchet G, the bells I, so that none of the players can count or discount or interfere with the marking without the knowledge of the other.

After a game is finished, the registering band has to be returned to zero, which is accomplished by a separate button, B, that acts on a pivoted arm, 0, which strikes the free arm of bell-crank pawl G, and produces thereby the unobstructed winding-up of the band, as the spring check-pawl d governed by the discounting-button, is not brought into action. The stem of band actuating button B is also provided with an arm, f, which engages, at the instant of depressing the button, a pivoted bell-crank lever, j', that is connected by a string, f with a spring pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, L, which denotes, by an ind exhand moving along a face-dial, the number of games played, forming thereby a reliable game-checking device for the proprietor of the billiards. A string, 9, is wound around the shaft of the game-checking mechanism L, and passed over pulleys along the side of casing A, in downward direction, to a side door, to which only the attendant has the key, and which, on being opened, admits the return of the index hand or pointer to zero, by pulling the string g, whenever a new party is beginning to play. A separate ratchet-and-drum mechanism, H, with operating-button B, is arranged back of the second opening 0, the drum having the numbers from 0 to 9, for admitting the registering of all the points between hundred and thousand, the button being depressed when each consecutive hundred is reached.

In this manner the different operations of counting, discounting, and game checking may be accomplished in simple and effective manner, and thereby each player enabled to keep a correct and independent record of his game.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In billiard-registers, the combination of the sliding discounting button with bellcrank shaped check-pawl G, ratchet-Wheel G, double spring-acted check-pawl d and the spring-stretched registering-band D, for the purpose of using the counting mechanism, also for discounting, substantially as specified.

2. The band-returning button B, having arm f, in combination with a pivoted bellcrank lever f connected with the gamecheckingmechanism and index-hand L, for keeping record of number of games played, as set forth.

3. The combination of game-checking mechanism h with a governing string, g, for setting index-hand to zero, for the purpose described.

JOHN LIPMAN. OTTO SGHROETER.

Witnesses:

E. P. RAYMOND, PAUL RAYMOND. 

